Izakaya and Sake Bar Hopping: 9 Crawls to Book

1.Shinjuku Local Bar and Izakaya Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,794 reviews · 3 hours · from $34Our pick

Spend three hours walking Shinjuku with an English-speaking local guide, visiting Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai. You will stop at selected izakayas and bars, taste Japanese drinks at your own cost, learn local nightlife customs, and finish with karaoke. Guides such as Nao, Naoya, Toshi, Kei, and Shota are praised for welcoming solo visitors and managing mixed groups.

“Shota was an amazing tour guide friendly, knowledgeable and an even better karaoke singer! We had a truly memorable night can’t thank Shota enough for his hospitality.”

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2.Shinjuku Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 890 reviews · from $39Top rated

Spend about three hours walking through Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai with an English-speaking guide. Expect small bars, Japanese food, sake, photos, and often karaoke. Guides such as Rika, Nao, Yoshi, Ken, and Akari help with ordering and introductions. Food and drinks cost extra, so budget beyond the $39.79 tour price.

“Yoshi crafted an excellent evening sampling a local experience in an Izakaya pub, sake samples and karaoke bar . This is a perfect tour whether solo or in a group as you become fast friends with your group exploring the night scene in Shinjuku”

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3.Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 815 reviews · 3 hours · from $25

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kyoto’s Disney Store in Shijo-Kawaramachi for a three-hour walk through temples, alleys, izakayas, and local bars. Guides such as Moto, Taiga, Mia, Leo, and Lyou lead small groups to places you may not find alone. Food and drinks cost extra, so bring cash. Guests must be 20 or older.

“The tour guide is so kind and cute. We've enjoyed the last night in Kyoto.”

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4.Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 385 reviews · 3 hours · from $19Best value

Join an English-speaking guide such as Taiga, Seina, Kosuke, or Naoko for three hours through Dotonbori and Uranamba. Visit small izakayas and bars, try sake and local drinks, sample Japanese food, and meet a small group of fellow visitors. Food and drinks cost extra, so bring cash and comfortable shoes.

“Taiga brought a fun atmosphere to our tour! He showed us some really nice local spots in the area. The Izakaya was amazing when we got to make our own takoyaki, the sake tasting opened up our palate, and we had a great finish with some karaoke at a local bar!”

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5.Shibuya: Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 354 reviews · 3 hours · from $29

Meet an English-speaking guide such as Tomomi, Kento, Asato, or Yuna near Mizuho Bank in Shibuya, then visit three local-style bars and izakayas over three hours. Expect food, sake, conversation, and often karaoke. Admission and photos are included, but bring cash for everything you eat and drink. Participants must be 20 or older.

“Kei was very knowledgable and took us to venues that gave us a feel of Tokyo local flavor. She was happy to answer questions and was enthusiastic the whole night though”

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6.Hiroshima Izakaya Food and Drink Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 297 reviews · from $110

Start at 7 p.m. near Fukuya Hacchobori, eat Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki in Okonomimura, then visit two Naka-area izakayas chosen around your tastes. Guides such as Kaku, Yoko, Yuji, Hika, Yuki, and Bikky share local food tips and city stories. The three-hour tour includes selected food and alcoholic drinks.

“What a fun night in Hiroshima! Meet great people. Had a lot of great food and drinks. Highly recommend.”

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7.Shibuya Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 218 reviews · from $39

Meet at 8 p.m. near Shibuya Station and follow an English-speaking guide through Shibuya Crossing, Miyashita Park, local izakaya, sake bars, and Center-gai. Guides such as Kota, Ken, Riku, Sora, and Momoko may add food tips, translation, photos, or karaoke. Admission is included, but food and drinks cost extra.

“This was fantastic especially for a solo traveler! The guide was super helpful and I was late due to traffic he contacted me and advised the first stop so I could meet the group there. Great conversation and knowledge. I would book again.”

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8.Shinjuku Izakaya and Golden Gai Bar Hopping Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 147 reviews · from $99

Spend about two hours walking through Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and possibly Golden Gai with a small group of up to eight. Your guide leads you to local izakayas, explains dishes such as yakitori and fish, and includes three alcoholic drinks plus 6 to 8 food items. Guides such as Hiro, Ryota, Tak, and Tetsu are known for friendly help and local tips.

“Excellent! Hiro is an extremely knowledgeable and this is a great way to introduce yourself to Shinjuku. It's also a great way to meet other travelers. I recommend doing this tour as soon as you get to Shinjuku.”

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9.Private Food & Sake Tour in Central Kyoto with Sake Sommelier

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $230

Spend three private hours in central Kyoto with Kenji, a certified international sake sommelier who worked at a Hyogo brewery. Visit two or three bars, including possible machiya izakaya and standing bars, while tasting sake, craft beer, and local dishes matched to your preferences. The tour is for groups of 2 to 4, with non-alcoholic options available.

“We had a wonderful night drinking sake and enjoying delicious food with Kenji. He is an exceptional guide with a lot of knowledge about sake and Kyoto. This tour was the highlight of our visit to Kyoto. I highly recommend to anyone that wants an authentic experience with sake and food.”

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